Public Opinion and Human Rights

What can (and can’t) we learn from surveys?

isolates them from the political mainstream. In recent years, however, a growing number of scholars and handful of activists have begun using opinion polls to better understand the public’s attitude towards human rights issues. In some cases, groups have used these analyses to adjust their messages, craft new outreach efforts, or build new fund raising strategies. In this debate authors explore the following questions: What research has been done in this area, and how useful is it? Should human rights groups use polling results to adjust their messages and strategy? If so, when and how? What additional research should scholars be doing and how can they work with activists? Should foundations and other donors support this work? If yes, how?

Several of the authors in this series are featured in the Journal of Human Rights' Special Issue on Public Opinion Polling & Human Rights (Volume 16, Issue 3).